| The
CatGenie can be connected directly to a powder
room toilet. |
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Cute
and cuddly they may be, but even the most beloved pet
can have behavior and needs that its owner struggles to
deal with.
Technology
might be the answer for keeping your four-legged pals
safe, comfortable and well-behaved. Consider these
products for helping canines and felines become better
family members:
COLLARS
Today’s
collars do much more than hold dog tags or fight fleas.
The Canicom remote training collar by Dogtek allows dog
owners to combine vocal commands with electronic beeps
and impulses. Corrective commands can be given even if
the dog is a distance away. Retails for $189. Special
bark control collars also available. www.dogtek.com/products/remote-training/canicom-200-remote-training-collar
Get
a peek at your small one’s adventures with a camera
developed especially for use on cats and dogs. Made by
Dogtek and retailing for $99, the Eyenimal Pet Video
Camera offers continuous recording of digital images for
up to 2 ½ hours. Images can be transmitted to a
computer using the cable provided. www.dogtek.com/products/pet-camera/
GROOMING
AND FEEDING
Automated
pet feeders can be great for convenience, portion
control and feeding a pet during a long absence. Perfect
Petfeeder by Pillar Pet Products is a programmable unit
that asks questions about feeding times and portions.
The hopper holds up to 42 cups of dry pet food. Retail
price is $499. www.perfectpetfeeder.com/
Shedding
can be an annoyance for pet owners. Dyson Groom Tool
combines a brush and a vacuum for simultaneous grooming
and cleaning. The attachment fits most Dyson upright and
canister models and retails for $69.99. www.dyson.com/tools/g/groom-tool/petgroomtool.aspx
FURminator
makes a $16 Curry Comb that removes dust and loose hair
from long and medium coats. It has an ergonomic handle,
and it’s made from antimicrobial plastic to keep germs
at a minimum. The rubber teeth are designed to stimulate
natural oil production for a healthy sheen. www.furminator.com/grooming-tools/dogs/curry-comb
AUTOMATIC
LITTER BOX
Among
the innovative products in the self-cleaning litter box
category is CatGenie, made by PetNovations. The
self-cleaning, self-flushing litter box hooks up to the
cold water intake at a sink, toilet or washing machine.
The drain hose hooks over a toilet rim or to the
drainpipe behind a washing machine. The process is
intended to be a straightforward, do-it-yourself setup.
CatGenie uses washable granular crystals that are
considered more environmentally beneficial than cat
litter. A litter box and four-month supply of
crystals/sanitary solution retails for $234. www.catgenie.com/
INDOOR
PET BARRIERS
Keep
cats and dogs out of restricted areas and off the
furniture with Sound Barrier, a wireless indoor sonic
fence that uses a collar to trigger a blast of noise,
rather than an electric shock, to scare pets away.
Retails for $79.99. www.hitecpet.com/soundbarrier.html
———
SMART
PET PRODUCTS
An
estimated 57 percent of American households own a dog or
cat, according to Petfinders.com, an online resource for
pet adoptions.
Animals
learn at different paces. Be patient and supportive of
your pets as they adjust to their new "toys."
Take
time to study the training tips and instructions that
come with high-tech devices for pets.
Larger
outlets such as PetSmart and Petco are
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